Full Cycle Recordings classics - mixed by Nuffbonsai

Someone needs to start a tribute site to some of the great internet DJs we have had over the past ten years in d'n'b/jungle. I mean DJs who play out in their local area but are also prolific posting mixes in line. These guys become like archivists, as they assimilate musical knowledge into quality mixes (no tape-hiss, no MC) that we can all appreciate.
They often categorise their mixes, as there is so much mateiral to choose from that you need a theme to unify it sometimes.

The other side of this is that it can lead to an idealised version of how good the music was 'back in the day' - as we all know, there is a filler in a lot of club sets and this also applied to jungle back in the day. The answer to that is there are a lot of lost classics that don't turn up on your average old school night or compilation.

Nuffbonsai was a DOA member and talented DJ who posted a series of mixes on artists such as Photek, and the Good Looking and Metalheadz labels. This was all pre-2005, you might be able to still find them online. Here is one of my favourites.

Full Cycle Recordings is a classic jungle label which kicked off back in 1994. Started by Roni Size and Krust, it represents the Bristol sound of the nineties - all deep bass and beats which click over in such a hypnotic way that their incredible complexity is disguised, until you give the tunes your full attention.


Full Cycle - Classic Mix by Nuffbonsai


1. Scorpio - Welcome The Drummer
2. Roni Size - Daylight [FCY002]
3. Roni Size & Die - 11:55 [FCYLP01]
4. Die - Nasty [FCY004]
5. Bill Riley - Future Funk [FCY005]
6. Die - Live & Direct [FCY006]
7. Krust - Priorities [FCY007]
8. Scorpio - Mellow Song [FCY008]
9. Roni Size - Brut Force [FCY009]
10. Die - Stoned Groove [FCY010]
11. Krust - Ideal World [FCY011]
12. Die - Reincarnated (Remix) [FCY013]
13. Krust - Soul In Motion [FCY014]
14. Suv - Everybody Plays The Same [FCY015]
15. Suv & Die - Music First [FCY016]
16. J Raq - Molecule [FCY017]
17. Bill Riley - The Phoenix [FCY018]

Actraiser - Haunted Audio Experience

Actraiser is a producer and DJ from Bristol who has been turning out deep tunes and mixes for the last few years. His mixes cover many styles from dubstep to garage, d'n'b to tech house, and he is a leader of the post-dubstep sound.

Haunted Audio Experience is a shining example of future garage and deep dubstep - ideal for the party warm-up, vibing, or chilling on a Sunday. Featuring a selection of his own tunes, it was recorded in February 2010. I've posted it because it's been constantly on rotation since then.

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Actraiser - Let It Rain
Janner & Acky - Ophelia
Actraiser - Blue Sapphire
Luthor - Some Place
Actraiser - Apocalypto
Luthor - Waterfall
Actraiser - Lone Wolf V.I.P.
Janner - Hyperion
Rdubz - Do Re Mi
Simonoff - Realise It
Simonoff - Resist It
Hypno - Elevate
Simonoff - 3056
Hypno - Autumn
Actraiser - Nevermore
Subreachers - Upside
Subreachers - Wild Rose
Actraiser - Realms Of The Haunted

Actraiser on Soundcloud

PRESSKIT

Andy C Live @ One Nation 1997 (Bonus CD - World Domination)

I saw the now legendary Stevie Hyper D once before he died such an unexpected death in 1998. The venue - a Perth club with Kenny Ken as the guest DJ. There was a tiny little stage in front of the DJ booth and Stevie ruled it all night. At the time I had hardly heard of him, he was just a name you heard from the UK, but that night got some serious adrenalin flowing man.

So this set is from the same year, 1997. Not sure what One Nation rave this was - Andy C is really pushing the hardstep jump-up sound, nothing too nasty.

Stevie Hyper D is best described as exuberant; the recording is clean so you can hear what he's saying, not too much blather. He suits Andy's DJing style, as at this point in time when the tunes were getting really dark again, Andy is still all about the fun vibe. This set will start your party night off.

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Daze of Reality drum'n'bass mix - September 2005

Since this blog is evolving into a bit of an era-hopping thing, here is a mix I did back in 2005, covering tunes from 1998 - 2005. I like this one because the track selection sums up my favourite styles accurately.


Marcus Intalex and ST Files - Warp 2
London Electricity - The Mustard Song
Mathematics - Like Dis
Mathematics and Tactile - Rub-a-dub
Shimon and Andy C - Live Line
Shy FX - Bambaata (Back To The Core Mix)
Klute - Don't Wanna Be Alone
DJ Lee and DKay - Tuning
Matrix and Danny J - Vertigo (Goldtrix remix)
Commix - Five Reasons
Visionary - Youthman
Serum - Dub Dread

54 meg, 39 mins, 192kbps


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DJ Aztek - 1992 mix

This is a top-notch party vibe mix from the well-known DJ Aztek, covering the 1992 hardcore-breakbeat sound. I was just starting to rave in 1992, and the music from that year really can't be beat for the out-of-control feeling of velocity, like every sound was designed to make you rush harder.

The mix has been around for a while, I found it on the excellent Dnbforum.

No tracklist but if I tell you it contains Drop XTC by DJ Crystl and Slipmaster.J I think that might help, no?

Great quality sound - 160kbps bit-rate, enjoy!

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The Old School Sound Revival 2000 - 2002

The first post this year is a 30 minute mix I did to showcase a very few of my favourite tunes from around 9-10 years ago. Artists such as Total Science and Digital were leading a sound which moved away from massive reese basslines and the tech-step vibe, toward a stripped back jungle - sound, with loads of old skool samples and proper syncopation on the breaks.

The best known and loved tune of this revival is undoubtedly the Total Science remix of Dubplate, which was originally done by Wots My Code in 1993.

I threw in a Sonic & Silver tune from 2004, more neurofunk, just to break it up a bit.

320kbps download


Shine - Loxy & Ink - 2002
Nightmare (Digital Remix) - Dylan & Loxy - 2001
Murder Thing - Total Science - 2000
The Russian - Sonic & Silver - 2004
Meathook - Fon (2) - 2002
Spacefunk 2000 (Nasty Habits Remix) - Digital - 2001

DJ Storm at Bass Bubbles, Adelaide 2000

DJ Storm is wicked. If you didn't know that you really have to listen to this mix from her Australian tour of 2000, the set is from Adelaide and the crowd sound nicely amped, as the Adelaiders know their quality dnb.

I saw the Perth leg of this tour and it was impressive - by the end of Storm's set (round 4am) the dancefloor was still full and there was a crowd of hollering and whooping junglists in the back corner, basically just baying like wolves at the moon. I may or may not have been a part of this behaviour.

No tracklist, but it has Dillinja-style nastiness, neuro shit like C4C, minimal skankers, the lot. It also has Change by Jonny L mixed into Nasty Ways by Dillinja. If that doesn't make you download it .... I dunno, son.

The first 4 minutes only has some sound clipping issues, the rest is sweet as.

Shout to Ironman for the link.

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The fretless crossfader

I got put onto this by an old friend who is a reliable source of amusing hip-hop (Shout to Matt), I think the video is self explanatory so have a listen. What sort of noise could you make with this?

The DJ/product developer is JohnBeez, you can find various other videos on Your Tubular.

Shuey - Moving Thru Air mix 1999

A beautiful mix of '99 style drum'n'bass in the more melodic vein here - its a rip of a Moving Thru Air promo CD mixed by DJ Shuey.

The Break And Enter crew had a positive effect on the dnb scene in the last couple of years of the 90s decade, providing Perth a consistent monthly weeknight of soulful sounds called Moving Thru Air.

I don't have tracklist, but have a download anyway. The selection is sublime and the mixing is faultless.

LINK

Aphex Twin - Polynomial-C

This is the first Aphex Twin tune I ever heard, I think it was in a 1992 documentary about the Perth rave scene which I will upload and post here very soon.




Anyway, some people don't like calling Aphex Twin techno, but I think that is a modern sitation caused by techno's converegence on a very narrow definition as 4x4, layered minimal dance music.

Aphex Twin's own label is called Rephlex Records - and they call their music 'braindance'.

"braindance is the genre that encompasses the best elements of all genres, e.g traditional, classical, electronic music, popular, modern, industrial, ambient, hip hop, electro, house, techno, breakbeat, hardcore, ragga, garage, drum and bass, etc."

Well, okay. Check it out.

Discogs info.

DJ Muller - June 2003 mix

This is a great old mix that I have sitting around on CD. Its a promo CD from 2003 - Muller is still playing at many of the raves in Perth, both large and small.

There are tracks from local producers - Hard Afro and Sardi, Chopper Pilot, and Pendulum. Oh, and that guy Greg Packer.

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Tracklist:

touch me - greg packer

devotion - dkay

true colours vip - high contrast

twister - calibre

fallin - uncut (total science rmx)

its over - calibre

dub thing - chopper pilot

no smoking - total science

soul - c4c (matrix rmx)

point blank - hard afro (sardi rmx)

heads will roll - ed rush and optical

tear it out - evol knick

hacksaw - ed rush and optical

sidewinder - photek

back 2 u - pendulum

Twin Bass - Daze Of Reality

And so to the tune which inspired the name of this blog, Daze Of Reality by Twin Bass. It was released in 1992, and has a real hardcore feel to it. You can feel the jungle influence coming in, but with a definite hanging-on to the warehouse rave vibe.

Greg Packer - 1994 Studio Mix

Greg Packer Jungle Mix 94 by jish-wa

I'm kicking this blog back into action with a 1994 Studio mix from the inspiration for myself and many other junglist ravers from Perth, WA - Greg Packer.

Ripped from DAT by the man himself, get this while you can. However I will be uploading more Greg Packer sets in coming weeks.

Tracklist
01. DJ Trace - Definition Of Living ( Scratch Records )
02. On Remand - Controllin' 'Tango Rmx' (Cracked Out)
03. Red One - Alive & Kickin ( Liftin Spirits )
04. Omni Trio - Renegade Snares 'Foul Play Rmx' (Moving Shadow)
05. Foul Play - Being With You (Movin Shadow)
06. Hyper On Experience - Disturbance 'Tango Remix' (Moving Shadow)
07. Jim Polo & Neil Vass - Energy 'DJ SS Rmx' (Dark Horse)
08. Remarc - Ricky (Dollar Records)
09. Essence Of Aura - Can I Dream 'Doc Scott Rmx' (Outstanding Productions)
10. Tango & Fallout - Violator Vol 1 (White)
11. Hardware - Night Stalker 'DJ SS Rmx' (Face Records)
12. DJ SS - The Bounce (Formation Records)
13. Shimon - The Predator (Ram Records)
14. Doc Scott - Drumz VIP (Metalheadz)
15. Pulse - Warning (Creative Wax)
16. Wax Doctor - The Saint 'Simon Templar Mix' (Reinforced)
17. Wax Doctor - Logical Progression (Face Records)
18. Randall & Andy C - Sound Control (Ram Records)
19. Dillinja - Deadly Deep Subs (Deadly Vinyl)
20. Anthill Mob - My Selector (PP9 Productions)
21. Subnation - Scotty III 'Ray Keith Rmx' (Future Vinyl)

Techsteppin' - Various Artists

This compilation gave the name to the genre that is much loved, and yet also parodied in drum'n'bass. The cliche is of dnb at its minimal harsh worst, but the reality is that a lot of these tunes define what is hardcore about drum'n'bass. It was quite a contrast to the junglist mentalism, but also part of the jungle scene.

Personal favourite is 'Headless Horseman', have a beer and turn this one up.

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Hydro - The Zone (5.24)
Doc Scott - Machines (6.10)
Ed Rush - Check Me Out (5.16)
Skyscraper - Mach II (5.53)
Rollers Instinct - Haze (5.09)
Skyscraper - Liberty One (7.14)
Cronic Crew - Black Marbles (6.50)
The Limit - Get Stoned (6.11)
Rollers Instinct - The Mutant (5.29)
Morph - Headless Horseman (Steppin' On Headz Mix) (5.04)
Remix - Elementz Of Noize
Hydro - Tha' Bomb Shit (6.42)
Skyscraper - The Difference (7.42)

Cryptonite ‘A Quantum Leap’ - April 10th, 1993

If you love that mix of deep, lush vibes and straight-up paranoia-inducing drum break mentalism, then this rave pack from late 1993 is something to check.

I first heard the Randall and Bukem (what a combination!) set a couple of years back thanks to the almighty 1992 of www.dnbforum.com fame.

Then I stumbled upon the Ratty set late last year, the man is pushing jungle techno in classic form. Looks like it's been ripped from a tape pack, but its good quality sound for an old tape, trust me.

What I love about this sound is that it represents a time when things were really changing in the hardcore scene. The sound was getting darker, the cheesy high-pitched vocals were well on the way out, but it hadn't descended into cliche of any type. I recall hearing a lot of this music in 1993 and early 1994, I think it set the tone for a lot of junglists.

Sorry no tracklist, soak up the vibe!

DJ: Mickey Finn
(1) 30:00 - 192kbps - 41.3mb mp3
(2) 29:58 - 192kbps - 41.2mb mp3

DJ: Randall & LTJ Bukem
(1) 29:46 - 192kbps - 40.9mb mp3
(2) 29:47 - 192kbps - 41.0mb mp3

DJ: Ratty
(1) 30:05 - 192kbps - 41.4mb mp3
(2) 30:06 - 192kbps - 41.4mb mp3

DJ Fusion - Tunes of 2007 Mixes part 1 & 2

Listening to mixes like these two is the best dancin' fun you can have outside a club, especially the first mix. Fusion is a DJ from Kent/UK who is a personal favourite for his continually upfront mixes on the web, and his exciting mixing style. Check out his work here



Mix 1
subfocus & tc - borrowed time
q project - 2 little 2 late rmx
nu:tone - missing link v.i.p
london electricity - great dnb swindle (logistics rmx)
xample - downlow
matrix & futurebound - family
commix - be true
mr l - back to ya roots (friction & k-tee rmx)
hazard & dminds - mr happy
noisia - facade v.i.p
>> tc - game over v.i.p
culture shock - vice chase
demo & cease - ladies night v.i.p
>> lynx - disco dodo
break - day 1
chase & status - hurt u
die - slow burn
matrix & futurebound - coast 2 coast
>>commix - sattelite type 2
dose, trei & menace - valium express
logistics - wide lens
high contrast - tread softly
neo - back like dat (marky & bungle rmx)
high contrast - kiss kiss bang bang
high contrast - if we ever
culture shock & brookes brothers - rework
sigma - all blue
gdub - dirty games rmx
influx uk - its love
xample - coma
hazard - busted
die & photek - thunder rmx
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Mix 2
blame & the pledge - avalon
high contrast - eternal optimist
sigma - el presidente
q - project - ?
nu:tone - deep old
commix - how u gonna feel
electrosoul - list
tc - afrika
nu:tone - second conection
fierce - hold it now
fierce & break - prism
heist - dont hold back
state of mind - back to the jungle
dillinja - take me all the way
xample - deeper
? - viper
sigma - hi-top
tc - strictly
nu:tone - system (matrix & futurebound rmx)
high contrast - pink flamingos
d kay - twin peaks
chase & status - disco
sigma - dawn alarm
cyantific - space station crew
baron - endless summer
state of mind - focus
>>fierce & break - keeper
digital & spirit - phantom force rmx
nero - the forecast
tc - rockstar
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Jungle Tekno 4 - Intelligence + Technology

I found this gem recently, and its the sort of thing I have to share. Released in 1994, Jungle Tekno 4 - Intelligence + Technology stayed clear of the anthem bashing we get on so many compilations today, and stuck with bringing the best of this scene to its fans.

At the time 'jungle' was still a dirty word in the minds of many ravers and clubbers, let alone the general public. Too druggy, too fast, all those crazy beats flying all over the rave, it was just too much for most people.

But for the emerging junglists it was simply the most exciting music we had ever heard. Take a listen.

Tracklist:
1 Randall & Andy C - Sound Control (6:04)
2 Area 39 - Attidude (6:00)
3 Asend & Ultravibe - What Kind Of World? (5:59)
4 Marvellous Cain - Hit Man (5:30)
5 N-Zo & DJ Invincible - Jungle Warrior (5:00)
6 Sonz Of A Loop Da Loop Era - What The... (Remix) (7:25)
7 Higher Sense - Listen Up (5:25)
8 A-Zone - Calling All The People (Remix) (5:50)
9 M6 Crew - The Basher (V.I.P. Mix) (5:48)
10 The JB - Stand Easy (6:06)
11 A-Sides & Nut-E-1 - Tonight (7:15)
12 Chaos & Julia Set - Natural High (7:16)

download

This Is The Beginning

Welcome to the Daze of Reality, a blog for people like us.

Well actually I started this blog to inflict my taste in music and my thoughts on dance music culture on you and anyone else crazy enough to end up here. So if you’re into jungle, drum’n’bass, early 90s hardcore, hip-hop, dub and reggae, with a sprinkle of different techno styles, I know your type so watch out!

What you will find here is a combination of essential music downloads, reasoned critical thought and psychotically unbalanced ranting, along with visuals of the street graffiti that I have been fascinated with since I was a young boy.

The desire to start this page has come from being immersed in the rave scene from the age of 17 back in 1992, through to the present day. Combine this with a hip-hop love affair that dates back to the golden days of 1988, a totally nerdish compulsion to collect and critique hardcore music from various genres, and a typically under-utilised Arts degree … well you get the picture.

I’ve been a raver, a DJ, a promoter, a dance music journo, and a radio presenter, but I have struggled in recent years to find an outlet for this burning passion that I want to stick with. I want to share the freedom that comes from truly experiencing beautiful and inspirational music. So perhaps this is an attempt to recapture that spirit, and to again express my feelings for the music that I love so much.